Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-06-30
DISASTROUS.
The Town OF Marshf1eld, Wis.
Swept Out Of Existence by
Fire.
Churches, Business Houses, Dwellings
and Depot Fall a Prey to the
Flames.
Terrible Storm in Texas-Eight Lives Lost
in the Tornado-Aangled Under
the Cars.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, June 2S.-Fire almost
swept the town of Marshfield out of exist
ence yesterday afternoon and two thousand
people are homeless, while the loss is not
less than q, OO0, 900. All communication by
wire is cut of, and it is almost impossible
to learn particulars. A locomotive spark
started blaze at noon in the lumber yard
Of the Upham furniture factory and it
rapidly developed into roaring fire that
spread toward the town. insufficient fire
protection facilities prevented any resist
ance to the flames, and soon several -four
ishing factories, the business blocks along
the main street and adjoining residences
were wrapped in flames, while the
people gathered such household effects as
they could and fed to the woods. The heat
was so intense that $500 feet of the Wis
consin Central track, which runs through
one end of the town, was bent and twisted
into the most grotesque shape, and travel
can not be resumed on this account until
tomorrow. Special trains from Stevens
Point and Chippewa Falls conveyed fire en-
gines to the place but the fire was beyond
all control, and now but one store and few
half burned houses remain of the flourish
ing town. Many people were transferred
by specials to neighboring towns, and
others eamped on the outskirts of the
town.
Among the buildings that were destroyed
were woodenware factory, the grist mill,
the saw mill and factory of the Upham
Manufacturing Company, the fremont and
several minor hotels, warehouses along the
Wisconsin Central, its depot, four churches
and the entire business center. The insur-
ance is less than one-ffth the loss. The
scene is pitiable one. The wearied men
and depressed women are watching the
remnants Of their homes and possessions
scattered around in the surrounding woods.
So rapid was the spread of the fire that
little could be saved. Frantic men and
women used vehicles of every description
to save goods when the fire reached the
residence part of town. Messages have
been received that the people are but
scantily supplied with provisions, and
there will be suffering until aid is dis
patched.
Superintendent Allen, of the Wisconsin
CeAtral, who has been getting scraps of
information over his wire, says that there
was nowlnd prevailing, and it was difficult
to account for the rapid progress of the
fire. 1t started, as near as he could learn,
in the Upham lumber yard, and spread
very rapidly. It's direction was toward the
Upham mandatory. The Central depot
was soon swept away, as was the COM
pany'S water tank and a pile bridge just
west OF the town about 800 feet in length.
The bridge was one over which the main
line runs and it's destruction impeded travel
all night.
DESTRUCTIVE TORNADO.
LoNGyIEw, Tex. June 28.-One Of the
most destructive storms ever known here
occurred Sunday night. The main portion
Of the storm did not strike this place, but
twenty miles below here it carried death
and destruction in its course. At New
Prospect, q neighboring town twenty
miles south Of here. five men were
killed outright. At Fairplay, a small
hamlet, one woman and two chill
dren were killed, who took shelter in an
old house on.which very large tree fell
killing them instantly. In the track of this
tornado nothing was left The country is
thinly settled, which accounts for the few
lives lost. AS there is no telegraph COM
munication, but little can be learned at
this time and all reports are meager in the
extreme. 4 heavy wind and rain storm is
raging now.
STRANGE RESTING PLACE.
Ell PASO, Tex, June 2S.-A Mexican,
named Carmelo, "a Mexican child, named
Sylvester Delacause, and Mexican woman
crawled under some freight cars at Rio
Grande station, on the Southern Pacific
railway, a few miles below here, to escape
from the heat of the sun, about ten O'clock
yesterday morning. An engine backed up
to remove the cars. No one was aware of
the presence of the Mexicans until their
cries of distress were heard. when the train
men went to their assistance, and were
Mortified to find them horribly mangled.
Carmelo had both arms run over and
crushed into jelly, and the lower part of
his face was almost torn off, while the
child had both arms crushed from shoulder
to elbow. The woman escaped. The two
sufferers were placed in box car and
brought to the city in the greatest agony.
Both will die.
BUSINESS PORTION BURNED.
PORTLAND, Ore, June 2S.-Fire Sunday de-
stroyed the business portion of the town
of Pullman, w. T. The loss is SO, 900 to
$50. 600: insured at about tWo-thirds.